Show-case



G. O. ALBAUGH. Show-Case.

No. 226,645. Patentepl April 20,1880.

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GEORGE G. ALBAUGH, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SHOW-CASE.-

SPECIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 226,645, dated April 20, 1880. Application filed October 9, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, GEO. U. ALBAUGH, of Louisville, in the county of J elferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Means for Displaying Samples, &c., of Small Articles of Hardware; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being bad to the annexed drawings, makinga part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1. of the drawings is arepresentation of a perspective view of my device attached to a counter. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the case resting on the bearings of the base-piece.

The object of this invention is to display samples of small hardware goods in the store such as screws, tacks, bolts, nuts, shot, and similar small articleson the counter, and to provide convenient means for handling them at retail in small quantities.

It often occurs in hardware stores that customers or dealers call for a broken package or a small quantity of screws, tacks, small nails, or the like, and the merchant is obliged to ascend a ladder or go'to the rear end of the store for the articles called for, consuming much time and labor with little return in order to satisfy the demand of the customer.

This invention is intended to overcome these difliculties and at the same time to display to a good advantage, ready for convenient exami nation and disposition, aline of small hardware. Therefore the novelty consists in a revolving case with a series of compartments having a central conical bearing and jonrnaled rollers or wheels, in combination with a platform having a circular track for the wheels to travel on and overhanging stops, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings I have shown my device arranged 011 the counter of a hardware store.

The letter A represents the sample or display case, made of wood or other suitable material, and having a pyramidal or conical shape. This case is in its general form a truncated cone having steps B O D formed in its sides, the steps being lower or narrower as the top is approached. The case may be pyramidal instead of conicalin form, if desired. Each of the steps in the sides of the case contains a series of compartments, which are formed by the horizontal bottom piece, 0, and the rim or outside casing-pieces (I, and the partitions of which radiate from a common center. All of these parts are secured to each other in any strong and substantial manner.

Each of the series of largest compartments is provided with a curved or inclined bottom, h, commencing at the upper outer circumference and extending inwardly to the bottom, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Of course, some of the intermediate and upper compartments may be provided with or have the inclined or curved bottoms. These inclined or curved bottoms to the compartments enable the articles to be easily scooped for retail.

The letter E represents a base piece or platform, which may be square or circular, provided with a plurality of countersunk openings for the passage of fastening-screws. Centrally arranged on the platform is a bearing, 70, preferably conical, resting within the central conical bearing 1 in the case. This platform is provided with a circular track, F, upon which the wheels or rollers H, suitably jourualed in the case, travel. This platform is also provided with a series of stops, m, with overhanging heads n, resting over the flanged portion of the conical bearing Z, and the bottom or under side of the case is also provided with a number of similarly-constructed stops, p, engaging with the overhanging portion of the track, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The objects of the track, wheels, and stops are to supportthe weight of the filled case, permit the case to revolveeasil y, so as to present the articles in succession in the different tiers and compartments, and prevent upsetting or displacement of the show or exhibiting case. Also, by this device the contents of broken packages of small hardware articles can be deposited in their proper com partments and prevented from wasting. Also, the various displayed sizes and grades of the articles can be seen and examined at little trouble.

The base-piece or platform may be attached directly to the upper surface or let into the top of the counter, or the track and central bearing may be attached to the upper surfacerollers, and a platform or base-piece having a central bearing, a circular track, and overhanging stops, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 15

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE O. ALBAUGH.

Witnesses:

WM. HENRY, J r., A. O. SHUGART. 

